U. Police Commissioner Kuprevich resigns post, will leave by end of July

Nationwide search announced for replacement University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich announced last night he would resign his position at the University on July 31. Kuprevich said he has finished all he wanted to accomplish at the University and is ready to pursue new challenges elsewhere. As the University's first commissioner of public safety, Kuprevich oversaw the University's police department and the Victim Support and Special Services unit since assuming the post in December 1990. "When I came to Penn there was a purpose to help create a safer environment and I think I've done that," Kuprevich said. Although he does not have other jobs lined up, Kuprevich said he will continue to stay in "campus law enforcement." Kuprevich said he concentrated on preventing crime through "community policing" and the expansion of the Division of Public Safety. And his efforts have resulted in a decrease in the number of criminal incidents, Kuprevich said. University President Judith Rodin applauded Kuprevich's accomplishments. "He has made significant strides in helping us think about a broader and more integrated set of security initiatives," Rodin said last night. As for a replacement, Executive Vice President John Fry said he will start a "very thorough national search" for Kuprevich's replacement beginning next week. Fry, who received Kuprevich's letter of resignation Monday, said he was confident a new commissioner would be in place by July 31. "We are going to continue and move ahead aggressively -- and we are not going to take a break for transition," Fry added. "We have a day-to-day responsibility to keep this campus safe and secure." By having a replacement by July 31, Fry said it would give the next commissioner the entire month of August to become comfortable with the position before students return to the University for classes in the fall. Fry said the next commissioner's transition would be smooth because Kuprevich has "put in some very good people over the last couple of years." Before coming to the University, Kuprevich was in charge of Brown University's police and security force for nine years. At Brown, Kuprevich was credited with expanding the university's police department and improving relations between Brown and state and local police. He also helped create a volunteer program to help female crime victims. He also survived scandals there in which Brown University students were robbed on a weekly basis by local gang members and Brown security officers were charged with participating in a campus theft ring. Kuprevich's career began as a Pennsylvania State University police officer. He then worked at Wayne State University in Detroit for 11 years.

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